The demolition of precarious housing began today at noon in the Bairro do Talude Militar amid tensions between the residents and the police, concluding around 4 PM, as observed on-site.
The Loures City Council reported that approximately 30 self-built houses were destroyed today, with demolition work resuming on Tuesday until all 64 planned homes are dismantled.
According to the Loures City Council, a total of 161 people, including 62 children, were living in the 64 homes and now must seek alternative housing.
Residents were advised to visit the social services at the Casa da Cultura in Sacavém to apply for assistance regarding housing alternatives.
“Alternative housing options in the rental market have been provided, with potential financial support for deposits and the first rent,” the source stated.
In Loures, operations were carried out at Talude Militar, where demolitions also took place at the end of June. The municipality issued notices on Friday, July 11th, giving residents 48 hours to vacate “more than 60 homes,” according to Vida Justa.
Similarly, in Amadora, notices were posted for the demolition of 16 homes on the Estrada Militar (Mina de Água), giving families two days to vacate.
The Loures City Council emphasized that their actions are “always legal, respecting judicial decisions, and prioritizing safety, public health, and human dignity”.
The municipality criticized the Vida Justa movement for “instrumentalizing vulnerable people” without offering “any concrete solution to the severe problem of uncontrolled illegal constructions.”
“The Loures City Council will continue to act responsibly, supporting those who comply and rejecting the haphazard construction of shacks in the municipality,” stated the council.
Meanwhile, the Amadora City Council, led by Vítor Ferreira (PS), declared that it “would not permit the proliferation of illegal constructions,” having identified new illegal buildings on Estrada Militar da Mina (formerly Bairro de Santa Filomena). These will be demolished as they “represent a setback in the efforts the municipality has been making.”
The City Council reported that families were assisted in finding “legal and emergency solutions” ensuring “public health and human dignity.”
The Amadora City Council noted that in 2012, it made a significant investment to eradicate Bairro de Santa Filomena to “restore urban legality and ensure dignified living conditions for all residents,” maintaining that it “does not condone solutions that bypass the law,” supporting structured, fair, and legal responses to housing needs.
The council added that a “significant investment” is underway to resolve the housing situation for 711 families long enrolled in the municipal rehousing program. Each year, they receive 1,200 housing requests from citizens in vulnerable situations.
The Vida Justa movement contends that these demolitions breach the law, particularly the legal framework for urbanization and construction, the Housing Law, and related regulations, as well as Portugal’s human rights commitments.
